epinephrine + vasopressin

Epinephrine + vasopressin is a pharmacological combination therapy investigated for the treatment of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). This combination is part of the VSE (Vasopressin, Steroids, and Epinephrine) protocol, which aims to enhance the probability of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and improve neurological outcomes. Epinephrine serves as a non-selective adrenergic agonist, providing alpha-adrenergic-mediated vasoconstriction to increase coronary and cerebral perfusion pressure, while its beta-adrenergic effects increase heart rate and contractility. Vasopressin acts as a potent vasoconstrictor through the V1a receptor, maintaining efficacy even in the acidic environments typical of prolonged cardiac arrest. The specific regimen in this study involves the administration of 1 mg of epinephrine and 20 IU of vasopressin per CPR cycle.

Other names

epinephrine and vasopressin combination